Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,175, Isaac Giddings, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Giddings, Isaac
8 29 175
CONTENTS

See letter to Mr. Grant Apr. 5. 1834
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 April 1838 - from the 4 March 1835 to the 26 April 1836. - Agent notified 27. June 1838.
Effex
15,096
Massachusetts
Mac Gading 2 d
of Medora in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Francis of the Reg t commanded by Col. Nixon in the Mass line for 18 months
Cred t v Deb t
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of - 60 - Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th day of May 1833 and sent Benj o Morris Salem Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $120.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 31 Dec r " 30.00 $150.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Adkins Clerk, Book C Vol. 2 a Page 28

Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office,
June 23.
1838.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Francis Giddings, one of the children of Isaac Giddings deceased, late a Pensioner on the Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of fifty three Dollars and thirty three Cents per annum, under the law of the 4th. June 1832 — has his proportion being one fourth of the deceased's pension, been paid at this Department, from the fourth of March 1835 to the twenty sixth of April 1836. — $15.25
Respectfully, yours,
Abdill K. Parrish Comptroller
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.

Isaac Giddings
Payable 18 months Adm'd
By N. Merrill

BRIEF in the case of Isaac Giddings  of Melrose  in the State of Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 78 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     April In 1776 9 Private Gen. Putnam Col. Wrown   Summer 1777 - - 6 " Col. Fossberg Col. Johnson   1779 - 3 " Col. Deane Col. Gerrish  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Wenham  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
William Cloutier Examining Clerk.

13.054 Isaac Siddings [2]
Please address reply to Br. Merrill Gale

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS : COUNTY OF ESSEX, ss.
On this second day of October A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the HONORABLE DANIEL APPLETON WHITE, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, now sitting, Isaac Giddings [2 d ] a resident of Andover , in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged 75 years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath, make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
That in April 1776 he at Wenham was hired by the town of Wenham as a Soldier to serve nine months in the Massachusetts line of the Continental Army and marched under Lieut. Spencer through Connecticut to New York and was there at Harlem placed at first in Col. Hutchinson's Regiment in Capt. E. Francis' Company and soon after in Capt. Fessenden's Company in Col. Nixon's Regiment in the Massachusetts line on the Continental establishment marched to Tarrytown, Cortlandt's manor, and was honorably discharged at Fish Kill at the end of nine months: -
That in 1777 at Wenham in summer he was drafted and enlisted as a Soldier and served six months in Capt. Rob t Dodge's Company in Col. Sam l Johnson's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia and marched to Stillwater & Saratoga & was discharged at White Plains: -
That in 1779 at Salem he enlisted as a private soldier in Capt. Addison Richardson's Company in Col. Gannish's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia and served therein about three months as near as he can recollect: he marched in fall and went up to Albany with St. Thompson and was there billeted out at Greenbush and was discharged honorably at Greenbush & got home about Jan y 1780: -
He was born in Wenham in 1757 and lived there till he was 21 years of age - and has always lived in this County: he had a written discharge but has lost it and has no record of his birth: he is known to Sam l Merrill Esq r . & David Gray and other citizens of Andover - in 1776 he was called by the name of Isaac Giddings Ipson .

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Isaac Giddings [ 2 ]
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
D. H. Pierce
JUDGE OF PROBATE.
We, _____ a clergyman, residing in _____ aforesaid, and _____ Esquire, a magistrate, residing in _____ aforesaid, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with _____ who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Subscribed and sworn to before

I Benjamin Gould, of Newburyport, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty one years and upwards, do hereby testify and declare, that Isaac Goldings who now resides in Providence, in said county, was a private soldier, in the company commanded by Captain Robert Dudge, in Colonel Samuel Saltonstall's regiment, in the year 1777, and served therein, during a campaign which was at least four months, at Saratoga, at Stillwater, and at the plain, at which last mentioned place said company was discharged after the capture of General Burgoyne. Isaac Goldings and served in the same company - and for some time commanded the company - The present Isaac Goldings was a native of Wehrham and enlisted at this place - another Isaac Goldings, who was also a private soldier, and served in the company under my command in 1780 at Rhode Island was a native of Ipswich. Benjamin Gould. Newburyport August 1 st 1832.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. Town of Newburyport - August 1 st 1832. Then Benjamin Gould above named, who is personally well known to me, personally came, and made oath to the truth of the above written declaration by him subscribed in my presence, and I do also certify that said Benjamin Gould is likely to be a credible witness. M c Worth Norton of the P le

This may Certify that in the year 1776. Isaac Giddings was returned as a Soldier of the revolution belonging to the town of Wenham from a service of nine months, and rec d of said town the sum of £ 7.10- as a bounty agreeable to a vote of said town to pay their soldiers at the rate of ten pounds for twelve months.
Wenham August 3 rd 1832.
A true Copy of record.
Moses Foster Town Clerk
E/552/6: Aug t 16. 1832
Then the above named Moses Foster Esq r made oath that he is of said Wenham and the above is true.
Rev. Merrill Inst. Purdie

This certifies that for many years I have been personally acquainted with Mr. Isaac Giddings of Andover, a native of Wenham, and believe him to have been a Revolutionary Soldier; and that he is of the age he represents, performed the services for which he now claims a pension, and that his statement of facts relative thereto may be relied on as true in all its particulars.
August 18. 1832
David Gray
Essex ss. ss. Personally appeared David Gray above named and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed before me.
Samuel Merrill, Just: Peace.

This certifies that for many years I have been personally acquainted with Mr. Isaac Goldings of Andover, a native of Wenham, and believe him to have been a Revolutionary Soldier, and that he is of the age he represents, performed the services for which he now claims a pension, and that his statement of facts relative thereto may be relied on as true in all its parts.
Stephen Abbot
Ever so Oct. 1 st 1832 Personally appeared Stephen Abbot above named and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed before me
M. Newman, Just. of Peace.

And the said Court hereby declares its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that David Gray who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergymen  respectable citizen resident in Andover and that the said Stephen Abbot who has also signed the same is a Magistrate  respectable citizen resident at Andover and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit, thave been town officers.
R. H. White  Judge of Probate
I, NATHANIEL LORD, Junior, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Essex aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Isaac Giddings for a pension, and that Samuel Merrill , Benjamin Merrill , Wm Woart , and Moses H. Thompson are Justices of the Peace, duly qualified to administer oaths and their signatures hereon are genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this second day of October A. D. 1832.
Nathl. Lord Jr.

29175 Roy INVALID.
File No. 29175
Where: London When: 1870
Act: Marriage
Index — Vol. 9 Page 154
[Arrangement of 1870.]

J. L. Edwards Esquire Commissioner of Pensions Washington.

Newburyport February 21 st 1834.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commisioner of Pensions
Sir
Permit me to forward you herein, and return to your Department, the applications of William Pillsbury, Silas Pearson - Daniel Chase, Nathaniel Chase, Daniel Mason and that of Samuel Pillsbury, for land service for pensions under the Act of Congress of the 7 th June A.D. 1832. amended as far as they can be for the applicants.
Will you permit me Sir also respectfully to ask, whether any decision has been made, on the application of Isaac Giddings of Andover, in this State, which was forwarded in September or October 1832. with evidence of his services in Captain Wades - Lewis, and Gulls Company's and drawn before Hon. D. A. White, as my Certificate has yet been received. An application was made by a person of the same name, a resident of the same town, whose service was in one instance, or more in the same Company and it is apprehended, a mistake may have been made, as Certificate has been long since issued to the other - and although, about the same age, and resident in the same place it will be seen by reference to the evidence in support of their respective claims, that they are not the same.
I am with great respect Yr Most Obedient Servt
W. W. Oakes
15.091

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Isaac Geadings Under clerk  which require further proof or explanation,
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? no
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.